Governor Tags - Deer, Elk, etc.

[Mike1187]

New Mexico Governor tags are on auction right now and it seems like they’re a bit different than a typical statewide governor’s tag.

Either way, it’s crazy to see some of these…kudos to those that have put themselves in a position to drop this amount of cash on a chance to harvest a great animal.

2026 New Mexico Governor's Tag Auction

Join me in supporting New Mexico Ducks Unlimited: https://go.dufundraising.com/2026nmgovauction

go.dufundraising.com

 

[Hide Hunter]

I don't support a public resource being sold to the rich elite. I hope public pressure pushes all of these towards raffles in the future.

 

[justin davis]

I don't support a public resource being sold to the rich elite. I hope public pressure pushes all of these towards raffles in the future.

I think it’s fine if it’s for 1 tag. It’s a great amount of money that goes towards conservation. More money than if it was a raffle. Like in Colorado. We have an auction for a Rocky sheep tag and a raffle tag. So the normal guy can buy a ticket or a bunch if they want to be in the raffle. But for the auction tag it can sell for 450,000 dollars. That’s a lot of cash that goes into conservation

 

[cwitt]

I don't support a public resource being sold to the rich elite. I hope public pressure pushes all of these towards raffles in the future.

It is very unfortunate that there is portion of the hunting community who is so short sighted and selfish as to feel this way. How lucky are we that we have fellow hunters who have the ability and willingness to make donations that large. They could do anything with their money, (same as you and I) and they choose to put it directly towards benefiting our public resources. One animal, at most, that is taken in order to benefit thousands that you and I have the opportunity to hunt.

Where do you draw the line at the rich elite? Is it the people that are able to spend six figures on an auction tag? Is it people able to put $1-99k in for raffle tickets? Is it the people able to afford to buy licenses and apply in multiple states? Is it the people who have enough discretionary income to go hunting at all? Lord knows even buying the licenses,tags, equipment, and gas required to go hunting as a resident isn’t cheap. Globally, if you can afford to do even that you’re probably considered the rich elite. By buying a tag, isn’t that the state selling you a public resource?

What every one of those examples has in common is that money is going towards hunting and conservation. The difference is the donations from these auction tags, depending on the state, is almost 100% earmarked directly for wildlife projects and matched with federal funding. The same can’t be said for the money from us just buying our tags and licenses and raffles don’t generate even close to the same revenue.

Am I jealous of these guys? Absolutely. I’m jealous of their jets, their houses, their cars, their rifles, and their trophy rooms. I’d have it all if I could too. But just because I’m jealous doesn’t mean I’ll let that cloud my judgement about how beneficial it is for them to buy these tags and participate in hunting. They’ll spend the money one way or another. If it’s not $500k on auction tags, maybe it’s $25-50k on raffle tickets. Now the regular guy’s odds are worse and the state still doesn’t generate the same amount of money. Lose lose. That is already happening in Arizona.

The first to suffer from losing auction tags are OUR animals. The second is hunters as a whole. Especially here in the west. Don’t be so naive as to think otherwise.

 

[Hide Hunter]

It is very unfortunate that there is portion of the hunting community who is so short sighted and selfish as to feel this way. How lucky are we that we have fellow hunters who have the ability and willingness to make donations that large. They could do anything with their money, (same as you and I) and they choose to put it directly towards benefiting our public resources. One animal, at most, that is taken in order to benefit thousands that you and I have the opportunity to hunt.

Where do you draw the line at the rich elite? Is it the people that are able to spend six figures on an auction tag? Is it people able to put $1-99k in for raffle tickets? Is it the people able to afford to buy licenses and apply in multiple states? Is it the people who have enough discretionary income to go hunting at all? Lord knows even buying the licenses,tags, equipment, and gas required to go hunting as a resident isn’t cheap. Globally, if you can afford to do even that you’re probably considered the rich elite. By buying a tag, isn’t that the state selling you a public resource?

What every one of those examples has in common is that money is going towards hunting and conservation. The difference is the donations from these auction tags, depending on the state, is almost 100% earmarked directly for wildlife projects and matched with federal funding. The same can’t be said for the money from us just buying our tags and licenses and raffles don’t generate even close to the same revenue.

Am I jealous of these guys? Absolutely. I’m jealous of their jets, their houses, their cars, their rifles, and their trophy rooms. I’d have it all if I could too. But just because I’m jealous doesn’t mean I’ll let that cloud my judgement about how beneficial it is for them to buy these tags and participate in hunting. They’ll spend the money one way or another. If it’s not $500k on auction tags, maybe it’s $25-50k on raffle tickets. Now the regular guy’s odds are worse and the state still doesn’t generate the same amount of money. Lose lose. That is already happening in Arizona.

The first to suffer from losing auction tags are OUR animals. The second is hunters as a whole. Especially here in the west. Don’t be so naive as to think otherwise.

This kind of mentality is so sad. You shouldn't simp for the rich and hope it trickles down to the rest of us. We have proven that doesn't work through our economic strategy over the last 40 years.

Raffle tags are a much fairer system. I truthfully don't care if they don't raise as much money. If the resource is in need of money, then we should be looking for new ways to raise revenue for our game departments. We don't need millionaires taking tags from the general pool so they can brag to their buddies.

 

[cwitt]

lThis kind of mentality is so sad. You shouldn't simp for the rich and hope it trickles down to the rest of us. We have proven that doesn't work through our economic strategy over the last 40 years.

Raffle tags are a much fairer system.

Simping to the rich and understanding basic economics aren’t the same thing pal. You don’t want equality, you want equity. That’s not the way the real world works.

I truthfully don't care if they don't raise as much money.

I know you don’t care. That’s my point. You’re making the conscious choice that your value set and feelings are more important than what actually works in practice and benefits the wildlife. That’s selfish and ignorant.

If the resource is in need of money, then we should be looking for new ways to raise revenue for our game departments.

The only way to raise revenue, without donations through raffles or auctions, would be to increase tag and license prices. Or taxes. There frankly isn’t another means. Is that what you would rather happen? Just because you’re too proud to let somebody with more money than you spend it how they want to?

We don't need millionaires taking tags from the general pool so they can brag to their buddies.

They don’t come out of the general pool. They were created, separate from and in addition to the general pool, specifically with the intent of generating revenue for the state.

I’d also love to know what being a millionaire has to do with bragging to their buddies? We have to be millionaires in order to celebrate harvesting an animal? Doing something we are proud of? Pretty sure we all brag to our buddies whether it’s about the doe you shoot or something else.

 

[IdahoBeav]

The only way to raise revenue, without donations through raffles or auctions, would be to increase tag and license prices. Or taxes. There frankly isn’t another means. Is that what you would rather happen? Just because you’re too proud to let somebody with more money than you spend it how they want to?

It's a strange thing. My guess is that he believes the rich should be taxed more in order to fund public agencies, but he has a problem with a rich person voluntarily paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to a public agency.

It would seem that it's more a matter of how it makes one feel as opposed to results.

 

[B Harrison]

I think it’s fine if it’s for 1 tag. It’s a great amount of money that goes towards conservation. More money than if it was a raffle. Like in Colorado. We have an auction for a Rocky sheep tag and a raffle tag. So the normal guy can buy a ticket or a bunch if they want to be in the raffle. But for the auction tag it can sell for 450,000 dollars. That’s a lot of cash that goes into conservation

That’s the line the politicians used.
Ask yourself how this ever came to be, that we feel ok paying the state for animals that they do not own?


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[roymunson]

That’s the line the politicians used.
Ask yourself how this ever came to be, that we feel ok paying the state for animals that they do not own?


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i mean if it puts more animals and better habitat on the landscape, why not?

Sure the rich are killing 1 big animal, but how many more Average Joes will have a chance at a tag or a good animal because of it?

The rich buying a tag may put a sour taste in someone's mouth, but I'd gladly deal with a small sour taste if myself and more of my buddies get a chance to get into the woods.

Maybe it's a way to finally take advantage of the rich and their deep pockets.

 

[dieselchessy]

That’s the line the politicians used.
Ask yourself how this ever came to be, that we feel ok paying the state for animals that they do not own?


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Yes, they don’t “own” the animals, they “hold them in trust” for the citizens of the state.
And as part of that “trust” they are obligated to manage them. And that management takes funding, which they are thus obligated to secure.

I have my concerns about such tags (tag sales). But I’ve yet to come up with a better idea.

 

[Slickhill]

I always thought if I were the governor they’d be shit outta luck because I’d be hunting all my sweet tags that come with the office.

 

[grizz19]

It is very unfortunate that there is portion of the hunting community who is so short sighted and selfish as to feel this way. How lucky are we that we have fellow hunters who have the ability and willingness to make donations that large. They could do anything with their money, (same as you and I) and they choose to put it directly towards benefiting our public resources. One animal, at most, that is taken in order to benefit thousands that you and I have the opportunity to hunt.

Where do you draw the line at the rich elite? Is it the people that are able to spend six figures on an auction tag? Is it people able to put $1-99k in for raffle tickets? Is it the people able to afford to buy licenses and apply in multiple states? Is it the people who have enough discretionary income to go hunting at all? Lord knows even buying the licenses,tags, equipment, and gas required to go hunting as a resident isn’t cheap. Globally, if you can afford to do even that you’re probably considered the rich elite. By buying a tag, isn’t that the state selling you a public resource?

What every one of those examples has in common is that money is going towards hunting and conservation. The difference is the donations from these auction tags, depending on the state, is almost 100% earmarked directly for wildlife projects and matched with federal funding. The same can’t be said for the money from us just buying our tags and licenses and raffles don’t generate even close to the same revenue.

Am I jealous of these guys? Absolutely. I’m jealous of their jets, their houses, their cars, their rifles, and their trophy rooms. I’d have it all if I could too. But just because I’m jealous doesn’t mean I’ll let that cloud my judgement about how beneficial it is for them to buy these tags and participate in hunting. They’ll spend the money one way or another. If it’s not $500k on auction tags, maybe it’s $25-50k on raffle tickets. Now the regular guy’s odds are worse and the state still doesn’t generate the same amount of money. Lose lose. That is already happening in Arizona.

The first to suffer from losing auction tags are OUR animals. The second is hunters as a whole. Especially here in the west. Don’t be so naive as to think otherwise.

This. The amount of help that sheep across the west have received due to the money raised from these tags in incredible. Pretty said people cant understand the amount of money it costs in the background to put in drinkers, haul water, and transplant animals. That ish ain’t free.

 

[BishBeCool]

if some dude wants to drop 400k + into the the bucket towards conservation in exchange for “a” tag I say go for it. WE benefit from it, the sheep benefit from it, the terrain the deer etc benefit from it. And sorry, I cannot afford that kind of donation. I guess be thankful that the homie likes to hunt and didn’t just drop it into a lambo.

 

[Andrew12gauge]

Sure the rich are killing 1 big animal, but how many more Average Joes will have a chance at a tag or a good animal because of it?

Zero. I don’t believe for a moment that more money equates to more animals. And as 1 fatcat spends more money on 1 animal his fatcat buddies see that they need to spend more to try to keep up. They do whatever they can to try to outspend and outdo each other. This leads to more private lands being locked up with outfitters and leases, and the price of landowner tags going through the roof and being unaffordable to the average guy. 20 years ago people drew quality tags and just went hunting, now if somebody draws a quality tag they all feel they need to invest another 10 grand on an outfitter because if they don’t they won’t get a big enough animal. People need to go back to hunting for the experience, and the trophies come with that experience, instead it seems all too often 90% of hunters out there only care about the inches of antler and every other part of the hunting experience is lost on them


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[PMcGee]

Zero. I don’t believe for a moment that more money equates to more animals. And as 1 fatcat spends more money on 1 animal his fatcat buddies see that they need to spend more to try to keep up. They do whatever they can to try to outspend and outdo each other. This leads to more private lands being locked up with outfitters and leases, and the price of landowner tags going through the roof and being unaffordable to the average guy. 20 years ago people drew quality tags and just went hunting, now if somebody draws a quality tag they all feel they need to invest another 10 grand on an outfitter because if they don’t they won’t get a big enough animal. People need to go back to hunting for the experience, and the trophies come with that experience, instead it seems all too often 90% of hunters out there only care about the inches of antler and every other part of the hunting experience is lost on them


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Conservation Permits: A History of Impacting Wild Sheep Conservation

In 1980, a new strategy to fund wild sheep conservation emerged in Wyoming. The state auctioned off a single bighorn sheep hunting permit, raising $23,000—a staggering sum at the time. Fast forward to today, and the concept has reached unprecedented heights. The sale of New Mexico's bighorn...

www.wildsheepfoundation.org

 

[WRO]

Raffle tags are a much fairer system. I truthfully don't care if they don't raise as much money. If the resource is in need of money, then we should be looking for new ways to raise revenue for our game departments. We don't need millionaires taking tags from the general pool so they can brag to their buddies.

Everyone whines like that hunting is getting to expensive even a tag goes up even a dollar, you hear constantly the kids and elderly can’t afford a 40.00 deer tag it’s going to ruin hunting etc.

So how you do you propose to fund access and habitat programs, species specific, etc?

 

[WRO]

Zero. I don’t believe for a moment that more money equates to more animals. And as 1 fatcat spends more money on 1 animal his fatcat buddies see that they need to spend more to try to keep up. They do whatever they can to try to outspend and outdo each other. This leads to more private lands being locked up with outfitters and leases, and the price of landowner tags going through the roof and being unaffordable to the average guy. 20 years ago people drew quality tags and just went hunting, now if somebody draws a quality tag they all feel they need to invest another 10 grand on an outfitter because if they don’t they won’t get a big enough animal. People need to go back to hunting for the experience, and the trophies come with that experience, instead it seems all too often 90% of hunters out there only care about the inches of antler and every other part of the hunting experience is lost on them


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Quality tags are turning into oil tags, realistically most truly great tags you’ll only draw once.

There’s certain hunts that if I ever draw them, I’ll hire a guide because I’ll never get to do them again and it’d cost me the same money to scout it not to mention the days off I can’t swing or would skip out on other hunts. Is it all about inches, kinda more it’s all about maximizing the opportunity.

 

[Hide Hunter]

Everyone whines like that hunting is getting to expensive even a tag goes up even a dollar, you hear constantly the kids and elderly can’t afford a 40.00 deer tag it’s going to ruin hunting etc.

So how you do you propose to fund access and habitat programs, species specific, etc?

Conservation Sales Tax - Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation

In addition to the American System of Conservation Funding, some states have begun to seek alternative methods of funding for their fish and wildlife agencies. A conservation sales tax on all taxable goods is one such mechanism that states might consider implementing. This excise tax is...

congressionalsportsmen.org

 

[BishBeCool]

Another thought.

let’s say this year, one tag gets sold (auctioned) for a price that a relatively small group of individuals can afford. Yes it’s correct that there is one less tag for the general population. (Any mathematicians want to figure out the potential odds of drawing that single particular tag? ). Now, with these types of sales and the programs they fund more tags are now available to the general population in the future how is that not a good return? I’d rather try my odds for one of 20 tags against 10,000 dudes than one of 3 against 10,000, Or none at all because a population declined or disappeared

Also, I’m pretty sure any person in this discussion could pick up one of those governor tags. You don’t need to come from a royal bloodline. Those tags are attainable for anybody with the $$$. We could all be a little more ambitious or put our house up I guess . I’m apparently not that ambitious, and not putting my house up. I don’t have a problem letting some dudes at a black tie event swing D’s around and ultimately benefit something we all love and possibly help provide us with more opportunities in the future.

 

[WRO]

There’s definitely abuses of the system, Utah is a great example of way to many auction and raffle tags.


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